Topic 5 - psychodynamic approach

assumptions of the psychodynamic approach

• focus on how all of our behaviour can be motivated by unconscious motives and events that occurred in early childhood

• psychic determinism - all behaviours driven by previous experiences (nothing happens by chance)

• therapy of psychoanalysis

• pleasure principle - constant drive to reduce tension through the expression of instinctual urges (Humans have unconscious drives/instincts that create tension (e.g., hunger, aggression). The id pushes us to release this tension immediately, without considering reality or consequences

Sigmund Freuds iceberg analysis

• our behaviour is largely determined by factors in our unconscious mind

• our conscious mind - consists of thoughts we are aware of - includes our perceptions and everyday thoughts ( small amount of mental activity we know about) - what we are aware of at any time

• preconscious - just beneath the surface of the water - includes memories and stored knowledge - we can access these if needed (things we could be aware of if we wanted to or tried) - thoughts can be become conscious at some point through Freudian slips and dreams

• the unconscious - information that is very hard or even impossible to retrieve and is the biggest part of our mind ( things we are unaware of and cannot become aware of ) - according to Freud, this can include our fears, instincts, painful or embarrassing experiences, traumatic experiences, sexual desires, violent motives or selfish desires. - contains repressed thoughts and feelings

• The role of the unconscious mind - driving, motivating force behind our behavior and personality ( survival and sexual instincts, including aggression)

• stores childhood memories

• protects the conscious self  from trauma and conflict

• Freudian slips - when we make a mistake in our speech that reveals our unconscious thoughts and desires

• analysing dreams - dream events are symbolic and can give us insight into the unconscious meaning behind them ( some of our fears and worries have been repressed out of the conscious mind - unconscious - show themselves in our dreams)

The structure of personality

• ID - pleasure principle

• primitive and instinctual part of the personality that operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification of basic drives like hunger, aggression, and sexual desires - selfish beast part -

• contained in the unconscious part of the mind, we do not fully know what it desires ( most of them are suppressed due to how socially unacceptable they are)

• we are born with an ID - babies born crying for things without guilt or remorse for their incessant crying - ID operates according to the pleasure principle

• example - a child grabbing a toy from another child because they want it immediately

• demands instant gratification

• demands you to act on urges and desires without restraint to fulfil your basic drives for food, comfort, and psychic energy

• THE SUPEREGO - morality principle

• conscience and ego ideal

• mainly in the unconscious, but can influence our conscious thoughts

• emerges around age 4-5 and represents the internalized moral standards and ideals learned from parents and society

• ⚖ It’s the morality principle → acts like an internalized sense of right and wrong.

• 👨‍👩‍👧 Formed through identification with parents and the values/morals of society.

• 📌 It punishes the ego with guilt when you do something wrong and rewards it with pride when you act morally.

• example - feeling guilty after lying to a friend, as it goes against personal morals

• guides behaviour mostly unconsciously, but you do notice some effects consciously, like feeling guilty for doing something wrong.

• opposes the desires of the ID

• enforced moral restrictions and battles against ID impulses - operates according to the morality principle

• supresses the urges of the ID - conflict with the ID

• THE EGO - reality principle

• rational and conscious part of the personality

• The ego mediates by finding a realistic, socially acceptable way to satisfy the id’s urges without violating the superego.

• reduces conflict between the ID and the superego - mediator, so it balances

• Example: You’re hungry (id) and want to steal food, but you know stealing is wrong (superego). The ego mediates by finding a proper way to get food, like buying it.

• Function: Tries to satisfy the id’s desires in realistic and socially acceptable ways while avoiding guilt or punishment from the superego.

defence mechanisms

• defence mechanisms - unconscious resources used by the ego to manage the conflict between the ID and super superego - help with alternative ways of coping

• in order to protect the ego from the demands of the id and super ego the ego distorts reality using defence mechanisms

• if the ego cannot balance the demands of the id and super ego it can lead to abnormal behaviour

• Denial - involves blocking external events from awareness - if some situation is just too much handle, the person just refuses to experience it

• When you refuse to acknowledge some part of reality, so refuse to accept reality to avoid dealing with any painful feelings that may be associated with the event ( act as if the painful event never happened)

• Refusing to accept reality or facts because they are too threatening or anxiety-provoking.

• Purpose: Protects the individual from unpleasant emotions or stress.

• Example: A person who is told they have a serious illness may refuse to accept the diagnosis and act as if nothing is wrong.

• will become deluded after a long period of time

• refusal to accept reality

• displacement - when you transfer feelings from the true source of the distressing emotions onto a substitute target

• redirecting an emotion or impulse from the real target (often threatening) onto a safer or less threatening substitute - person feels unable to express them in the presence of the person they are directed towards - instead, they take it out on someone else or object

• Purpose: Protects the individual from anxiety or guilt that could arise from expressing the emotion toward the original target.

• Example: A person who is angry with their boss might take out their frustration on a family member or pet instead of confronting the boss.

• someone who feels uncomfortable with their sexual desires for a real person may substitute a fetish

• repression - involves keeping disturbing or threatening thoughts from becoming conscious. Thoughts that are repressed often surface in disguised forms, such as dreams or Freudian slips (slips of the tongue )

• entirely unconscious

• distressing memory is forced out of the conscious mind into the unconscious mind

• Example - child abused by parents - may have no recollection of these events - but has trouble forming relationships when older

• This will continue to influence behaviour without the individual being aware of the reasons behind their behaviour 

• Pushing unpleasant or threatening thoughts, memories, or feelings into the unconscious mind so you are not aware of them.

• Purpose: Protects the individual from anxiety or emotional distress.

• identification - involves an individual adopting the characteristics of someone else, often a person of status and authority

• helps individuals feel more secure and reduces feelings of anxiety

• to reduce anxiety or increase self-esteem.

• Purpose: Helps the individual cope with stress or feel more secure by modeling themselves on someone they respect or fear.

• example - child might adopt the mannerisms of a parent or an older sibling

overview of the psycho sexual development

• libido active at every stage - directed to different parts of the body is

• normal development is for the child to pass through one stage successfully and onto the next

• At each stage, there is a conflict that needs to be resolved

• fixated - an individual becomes stuck at a particular stage due to an unresolved conflict at one of the stages - libido energy fixed at the developmental stage - Freud says children will carry these fixed stages they are stuck at into adult life

Psychosexual stages of development (first stage)

•  age oral stage - 0-1 years

• libido -  satisfaction and pleasure due to feeding gratification is focused on the mouth (mother’s breast)

• conflict - weaning  - child must become less dependent on caregiver for food - mother’s milk

• fixation - sucking a thumb , smoking , drinking , overeating to gain oral stimulation

second stage

• age anal stage - 1-3 years

• libido - bladder and bowel ( the muscles of the anus and urinary tract )

• The ego develops during this stage

• conflicts - toilet training, control and delayed gratification are issues ( gain independence and control) - if the child is not supported by mother and father during this stage and is made to feel ashamed or embarrassed about their potty training - fixations can occur

• fixations at this stage:

• anal expulsive : messy and wasteful

• anal retentive - refers to a personality trait characterised by excessive to detail , orderliness and control often to the point of perfectionism , bodily cleanliness

• fixation during the anal stage leading to behaviours like rigidity and stubbornness ( fussy about minor details)

third stage

• The phallic stage

• age - 3-5 years

• super ego develops

• libido - genitals - pleasure and gratification

• the genital region becomes the primary source of id gratification

• children will be observed to be handling their genitals, and parents should accept this as normal

• conflict - Oedipus complex and Electra complex

• fixations - overly dependent on mother and father ( mum for girls and dad for boys) 

• may also have gender identity confusion

• behaviours as adults if there is unresolved conflict - sexual anxiety and deviancy

• when a child identifies with their same sex parent through the resolution of the Oedipus and the Electra complex

• They then internalize moral standards , values and characteristics of the same sex parent

phallic stage - phallic anxieties including Eudipus and Electra complexes

• Overview - a child sees their same sex parent as a threat and rival for the opposite sex

• The Oedipus complex - Freud’s explanation of GD in males

• children experience subconscious sexual desires for opposite sex parent (mum)

• feel jealousy and rivalry towards the same sex parent occurs during phallic stage

• boys - intense affection towards their mothers and hostility towards fathers ( sees fathers as competitors)

• Freud - during the phallic stage of development boys desire their mother and is afraid he recognize their father as a potential rival

• Because of this boy develops castration anxiety - fears father will castrate him physically and figuratively ( role as a man desiring his mother) 

• to resolve anxeity the boy gives up love fr his mother and identifies with his father- identifying with the stronger aggressor - boy adopts a male identity and characteristics

• resolution of this complex is crucial for healthy psychosexual development - child eventually identifies with same sex parent

• failure to resolve the Oedipus complex - relationship difficulties in adulthood - a significant concept of psychoanalysis

• Electra complex - gender development in females

• mother seen as a threat and rival during the phallic stage for girls, and she becomes aware that she has no penis and that she has already been castrated

• girl blames her mother for no penis

• she sees herself and her mother as powerless

• girl desires penis - a symbol of male power

• penis envy - desire the father - he has what she desires

• girls convert desire for a penis - desire for a baby

• identifies with the mother and adopts the female role

• During the phallic stage, a little girl desires her father and realizes she doesn’t have a penis

• development of penis envy and desire to be a boy

• resolved by the girl repressing her desire for her father and substituting the wish for a penis with the wish for a baby

• Freud claims the girl blames her mother for the “castrated state,” which then  creates great tension

• feelings repressed to remove the tension

• girl identifies with her mother and internalizes her mother’s gender identity so that it becomes her own

fourth stage

• latency stage from 6-12 years old

• new parts of the personality develop

• super ego develops further

• sexual desires are strongly suppressed during this time through the resolution of the Oedipus and Electra complexes

• At this stage, children’s sexual energy (libido) is not focused on a specific body part (like mouth in oral stage, or genitals in phallic stage). - dormant active

• conflict - development or ego and superego ego helps make this stage calm - defence mechanisms develop

• fixations - doesn’t normally occur - immaturity - but fixation is not common

• Instead, the libido is latent (hidden).

• Children channel their energy into developing social relationships, hobbies, and learning rather than seeking pleasure through erogenous zones.

• the troubled child will have their problems seemingly disappear

• previous conflicts are resolved and repressed ( early years forgotten)

• kid starts to identify with the aggressor - The same-sex parent is seen as the aggressor/rival (e.g., a boy sees his dad as the rival for mum’s attention).

• To reduce conflict and anxiety (especially fear of punishment like castration in boys), the child copies and internalises the behaviours, morals, and values of the same-sex parent.

  fixations - Children may struggle with forming peer relationships or confidence in social settings.

• They might have difficulties with communication or emotional expression later in life.

• Could potentially contribute to immaturity or lack of interest in relationships when older.

fifth stage

• genital stage

• puberty onwards 13+

• sexual and romantic interests become directed towards one’s peers

• 🔑 Focus of libido (sexual energy): No longer on specific erogenous zones like in earlier stages – instead, it becomes genital-focused (mature sexual interests).- active due to puberty sexual desires due to onset of puberty for the opposite sex

• conflict and fixation - development of ego and superego contribute to control and balance the urges to help behaviour be appropriate to expectations of parent and society

• 🤝 Key development: Interest shifts towards forming intimate, adult relationships and contributing to society through work and family.

• 🧠 Outcome if resolved successfully: The individual develops into a well-adjusted, balanced adult capable of love, work, and healthy relationships.

• ⚠ Fixation (if unresolved in earlier stages): May lead to problems in forming and maintaining adult relationships, poor sexual adjustment, or immaturity.

• fixations at any stage determine our adult behavioural and personality traits

• fixations may occur due to trauma , changes in environment , unpleasant experiences

little Hans case study - research support

• Aim:

  • To gather evidence for Freud’s psychodynamic theory, specifically the Oedipus complex during the phallic stage of development.

  Sample:

  • A 5-year-old boy, "Little Hans."

  • Freud never met Hans directly — information came from reports written by Hans’ father, who was one of Freud’s supporters.

  Procedure:

  • Hans was observed over time and his dreams, fears, and behaviours were recorded by his father.

  • These were passed on to Freud, who analysed them and offered interpretations based on psychodynamic theory.

  Key Features / Case Details:

  • Hans developed a phobia of horses (especially ones with black muzzles or blinkers).

  • Freud explained this as displacement: Hans’ unconscious fear of his father (due to rivalry for mother’s affection in the Oedipus complex) was displaced onto horses.

  Dreams & Freud’s Interpretations:

  1. Giraffe dream 🦒

     • Hans dreamed of a big giraffe and a crumpled giraffe. He sat on the crumpled one and the big giraffe shouted.

     • Freud interpreted this as symbolising Hans taking his mother away from his father (the big giraffe = father, crumpled giraffe = mother).

  2. Plumber dream 🔧

     • A plumber came and replaced Hans’ penis with a bigger one.

     • Freud saw this as Hans identifying with his father and moving past the Oedipus complex, accepting his male role.

  Findings/Results:

  • Hans’ phobia of horses reflected unconscious conflict: fear of castration by his father for desiring his mother.

  • The dreams showed both his conflict and his eventual resolution by identifying with his father.

  Conclusion:

  • Freud argued this case study supported the existence of the Oedipus complex and the role of the unconscious mind in shaping behaviour.

  • It demonstrated the use of defence mechanisms such as displacement.

evaluations for little Hans study

• ✅ Point: A strength of Little Hans’ case study is that it provides research support for the psychodynamic approach.
  📖 Evidence: Hans’ horse phobia and his dreams were interpreted as showing unconscious conflicts and the Oedipus complex.
  🔎 Explain: This demonstrates how psychodynamic concepts like displacement and unconscious conflict can explain behaviour, providing real-life evidence for Freud’s theories.
  📌 Link: Therefore, the study strengthens the validity of the psychodynamic approach as it shows the unconscious mind influencing behaviour.

• ✅ Point: Another strength is that the study provides rich, detailed qualitative data.
  📖 Evidence: Hans’ father recorded his fears, behaviours, and dreams over time, giving Freud a comprehensive picture of his development.
  🔎 Explain: The depth of the data allows for careful analysis of the child’s inner thoughts, supporting ideas about the unconscious and psychosexual stages.
  📌 Link: Therefore, the study offers valuable insight into the workings of a child’s mind that could not be captured with simple experiments.

• ❌ Point: A weakness is that the study lacks generalisability.
  📖 Evidence: Only one boy (Hans) was studied, and the data came from his father’s reports.
  🔎 Explain: This means the findings may not apply to other children, and the father’s own biases could have influenced the data.
  📌 Link: Therefore, it is difficult to generalise Hans’ behaviour to all children, limiting the study’s overall applicability.

• ❌ Point: Another weakness is the study is highly subjective and raises ethical concerns.
  📖 Evidence: Freud interpreted Hans’ dreams and behaviours without scientific measures, and the child may have experienced anxiety from the phobia and attention.
  🔎 Explain: This means the conclusions rely on Freud’s interpretation rather than objective evidence, and Hans’ welfare may have been compromised.
  📌 Link: Therefore, while insightful, the study is unscientific and ethically problematic, limiting its reliability and acceptability.

Malinowski study triband island ( research support)

Malinowski (1920s–1930s) – Trobriand Islanders Study

Aim:

• To explore child development and family relationships in a non-Western culture, and see if Freud’s psychodynamic predictions (especially the Oedipus complex) were universal.

Sample:

• Children from the Trobriand Islands, a matrilineal society where the mother’s brother (maternal uncle) had more authority than the father.

Procedure:

• Observational study of children’s interactions with parents, uncles, and other family members.

• Focus on attachment, jealousy, and authority dynamics in the family.

Findings / Results:

• Fathers had very little authority or involvement in early childcare.

• Boys did not develop the Oedipus complex or fear their fathers, as Freud predicted.

• Instead, boys showed jealousy toward uncles, who were the primary authority figures.

• Children developed normally despite lack of fatherly involvement.

Conclusion:

• Freud’s theories, particularly the Oedipus complex, are not universally applicable.

• Family structure and culture significantly influence child development.

• Supports the idea that psychodynamic concepts may be culturally biased.

methodologies of psychodynamic approach

• Free Association: A therapeutic technique where the patient is encouraged to speak freely about whatever comes to mind, without censorship. The therapist then analyses the flow of thoughts to uncover underlying unconscious conflicts and patterns (About the Free Association Method).

• Dream Analysis: Dreams are considered the "royal road to the unconscious" (Freud). They provide symbolic representations of repressed desires and conflicts. The manifest content (what the dreamer remembers) is analysed to uncover the latent content (the underlying meaning).

• Projective Tests: Ambiguous stimuli (e.g., inkblots, ambiguous pictures) are presented to the individual, who is asked to describe what they see. Their responses are believed to project their unconscious thoughts and feelings. Examples include the Rorschach Inkblot Test and Thematic Apperception Test (TAT).

latent content - the underlying and symbolic meaning of the dream, believed to reveal unconscious desires and conflicts

manifest content - the surface level, literal details of the dream as remembered by the dreamer.

evaluations for psychodynamic approach

• ✅ Point: A strength of the psychodynamic approach is that it has research support, such as Freud’s case study of Little Hans.

  📖 Evidence: Little Hans was a 5-year-old boy who developed a phobia of horses. Freud interpreted this as evidence of the Oedipus complex, suggesting Hans displaced his fear of his father (castration anxiety) onto horses, which resembled his father (large, powerful).

  🔎 Explain: This supports Freud’s theory because it shows how unconscious conflicts (in this case, Oedipus complex anxieties) can manifest in behaviour and phobias. It gives credibility to the psychodynamic idea that behaviour is not always driven by conscious thought but by deeper, hidden forces.

  📌 Link: Therefore, the case of Little Hans provides evidence for Freud’s concepts, strengthening the validity of the psychodynamic approach.

• ✅ Point: A strength of the psychodynamic approach is its practical applications, mainly in the field of counselling and psychotherapy.

  📖 Evidence: Psychodynamic therapy, and later approaches influenced by it such as CBT and client-centred therapy, have helped many people understand and discuss their issues. It is considered one of the first “talking therapies.”

  🔎 Explain: These therapies allow individuals to explore their unconscious thoughts and early experiences, making them highly useful for improving mental health and overall well-being in society.

  📌 Link: Therefore, the psychodynamic approach has had a tangible effect on society, both by helping individuals and improving the reputation of psychology as a discipline.

• ❌ Point: A weakness of the psychodynamic approach is that it may be culturally biased.

  📖 Evidence: Malinowski studied the Trobriand Islanders, a society where mothers’ brothers held more authority than fathers, who had very little involvement in early childcare.

  🔎 Explain: In this society, boys did not develop the Oedipus complex or fear their fathers as Freud predicted. Instead, they experienced jealousy towards their uncles, who were the primary authority figures. This shows that Freud’s theory is based on Western assumptions about family structure and may not be universally applicable.

  📌 Link: Therefore, the psychodynamic approach has limited generalisability and may not accurately explain development in all cultural contexts.

• ❌ Point: A weakness of the psychodynamic approach is that it focuses on subjective and unscientific methods of measurement.

  📖 Evidence: Freud relied heavily on case studies (e.g., Little Hans) and interpretations of dreams, fantasies, and reports from parents, rather than objective or measurable data.

  🔎 Explain: This means the findings are open to bias, difficult to replicate, and cannot be empirically tested. As a result, it reduces the scientific credibility of the approach compared to methods used in biological or cognitive psychology.

  📌 Link: Therefore, the psychodynamic approach is considered less scientific and more subjective, limiting its reliability and acceptance in modern psychology.